Combination container and applicator for cosmetics and the like



Nov. 29, 1960 e. F. CLAYPOOL COMBINATION CONTAINER AND APPLICATOR FORCOSMETICS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 27, 1958 ATTY.

INVENTOR GLENN F. CLAYPOOL COMBINATION CONTAINER AND APPLICATOR FORCOSMETIC AND THE LIKE Glenn F. Claypool, 623 North East Ave., Oak Park,Ill.

Filed Aug. 27, 1958, Ser. No. 757,535

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-135) The instant invention relates to dispensers ofmaterials having a creamy consistency, which are to be applied to thesurface of the human anatomy. More particularly, the invention relatesto a combination dispenser and ap plicator of form retaining fluidswhich are adapted to be spread upon the surface of the human body.

Many materials in the cosmetic and related classes contain oils or oilysubstances which cannot be readily washed from the hands. By reason ofthe foregoing, numerous attempts have been made in this art to provideapplicators in combination with the dispensing containers of thematerials therein contained which are adapted to apply the materialsdirectly to the surface of the body without the use of the hands orfingers. The applicator devices generally are rounded or have roundapplying surfaces which are not entirely satisfactory because they donot uniformly distribute the material sought to be applied. That isbecause the material dispensed serves as a lubricant to cause therounded applicator surface to slide over the material rather thandistribute it as desired.

In the following description, reference is particularly had to shavingcream as the material to be distributed. It will be appreciated thatshaving cream only serves as a convenient illustration of the class ofmaterials for which the instant invention is adapted. Additionally, thedispensed material will be referred to as a form retaining fluid; andalthough the term may seem incongruous, based upon certain physicaldefinitions, what is referred to herein as a form retaining fluid is arather viscous creamy material like shaving cream, for example, the formof which can be retained for reasonable periods of time and the form ofwhich is readily changeable upon the application of slight externalpressure.

To illustrate in a more particular fashion what is meant by formretaining fluid, conventional types of shaving cream, for example, aswell-as many types of cosmetic creams, will retain their shape,unsupported, if in relatively small quantities, but they will not retaintheir shape if a sufficiently large mass is not supported by a jar or atube. However, shaving cream and the like, which is containedconventionally in a collapsible tube, can be made to flow through anoutlet, aperture or opening in such tube by exerting pressure on themass.

In order to apply shaving cream, for example, which has been ejectedfrom a collapsible tube, it is necessary that one of two things be done:Either the cream must be first placed upon the fingers and then rubbedor spread on the face using the fingers; or an applicator must beprovided which will receive the shaving cream when ejected and thenapply it to the surface of the face. To obviate the sliding caused bythe conventional rounded type applicators used in conjunction with formretaining fluids of the class described, it is necessary to providesuitable means which will resist the tendency of the applicator to slideor slip by reason of the lubricants normally contained in the fluids ofthis class.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a combinationdispenser and applicator for form retaining fluids, which normally havelubricating characteris tics, which comprises means for overcoming thelubricating effect of the fluids.

It is additionally an object of this invention to provide a combinationdispenser and applicator for materials'of the described class which hasa plurality of friction members which are adapted to engage the surfaceof the body whereby the tendency of the applicator to slide on thematerial dispensed is overcome.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a I combinationdispenser and applicator of materials of the described class whichincludes a plurality of body surface engaging treads whereby materialfrom the dispenser is distributed on the surface of the body.

It is a still further object of the instant invention to provide adevice of the described class for dispensing and applying form retainingfluids which has a plurality of treads adapted to frictionally engagethe surface of the body and hold the fluid being spread 'by theapplicator between the treads.

Other and further objects of the invention'will become apparent from thefollowing description and appended claim, reference being had to theaccompanying draw-- ings and numerals of reference thereon.

On the drawings:

struction embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the applicator end 0 the tube shown inFig. 1 with the cap removed.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the applicator shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in partial section illustrating one construction of theapplicator.

Fig. 5 is a view in partial section illustrating another construction ofthe applicator.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view illustrating the use of the applicator on thebody.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a form retaining fluidC such as shaving cream or other cream adapted to be spread on thesurface of the body is provided with a container 10. As in the case ofshaving tainer 10 carries'an applicator or head 12 which is rigidlysecured to or integral with the container 10. This ap plicator 12 isrigid, smooth finished and imperforate, and

is preferably slightly rounded to provide maximum body engaging surface.It has a discharge port or opening 11 through Which the fluid C issqueezed and ejected from the container 10. As illustrated herein, theopening or port 11 is centrally disposed. However, it is believed thatthis central disposition of the opening or port 11 is not critical tothe invention.

The applicator or head 12 carries a plurality of rigid, imperforate andsmooth finished friction members or treads 13 which are disposed aboutthe opening 11. These friction members may be formed integral with thehead and are raised portions thereon between which are formed grooves ortroughs 14 which hold and retain the cream which is dispensed from thecontainer 10 while it is being spread upon the surface of the body, aswill become hereinafter more evident. In the form of the inventionshown, the treads 13 are annular and concentrically disposed upon thehead 12 about the central aperture or port 11. Such dispositionincreases the strength of the rigid head 12.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible tube con- The container 10may also adapt itself 12 is engaged with the face 15, for example, inthe case I of shaving =oream;-the crea'rn C which was' pile'd up aboutfthe aperture ll will" spread 'into the troughs==14 pr'ovide'd betweenthe treads 13. As the applicator lz is -moved through theapplicatingmotion about the facepportions of the elastic skin=or-bodysurface engaged enter into the troughs 14 to pickup the cream disposedtherein as illustrated in Fig.- 6. It will be observed that 'on'eof thetreads 13 is located immediately about and defines the exit of theopening 11 andis" locate'd at the peak 'of theconvex surface of theapplicator for massagingand fluid spreading contact Withthe anatomysurfacemearest saiw opening, the remaining treads -13being -disposed'-in pro gressively receding-relation to-said opening-definingtread andto one another conformable to the convex applicator surface.

The amount of'thecreamthat will'be picked-up or applied to the surfaceof the body or face 15 at any one .10- cation will depend'upon thepressure of engagement thereof with head 12. vSlippingor sliding on theappliedcream will be substantially or wholly precluded by reason of thetreads 13 in the troughs 14 of which'the skin engages. In this fashion,the shaving cream, or other like material, may be applied uniformly overthe face exercising minimum effort and without engaging the fingers inthe cream. Using the applicator head 12, uneven areas of creamapplication may be leveled by carrying the cream in the applicator headto areas of the skin having less cream or no cream thereon.

The device not only serves as an applicator for cream, but also, becauseof the skin gripping treads 13 with alternately positioned troughs 14,simultaneously serves to' massage the body surface.

In accordance with the foregoing disclosure, it is now apparent that oneis able to uniformly apply on the surface of the body a material such asshaving cream without engagement of the fingers in the mass of thecream. Additionally, it is apparent that the applicator head 12 maycontinuously be kept clean and clear by merely wiping the head 12 on thebody surface 15 and because of the smooth finish, irritation to the bodysurface is precluded. Furthermore, byreason of the foregoing,substantial economies are effectuated because of the elimination ofwaste which results when the fingers are employed 'to' spread the cream.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the head or applicator 12' is shown formedintegral with collapsible tube 10. Howinto opposed slots 19 cut orprovided in the neck 17. In this manner, existing suppliesofconventional cream tubes may be easily converted intola constructionconforming with the instant invention.

To seal or cover opening 11, a screw cap or closure, releasably mountedon threads 21, is provided; and said cap 20 preferably is provided witha centrally disposed plug 22 to occlude or close theport or aperture 11by snugly fitting therein.

As many changes or substitutions could be made in the above describedconstruction and as many apparent- 1y widely different embodiments oftheinvention' within the scope of the claim could be constructed withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit thereof, it is intended that allmatter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpretedas being illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

A combination-dispenser and applicator adapted tddispense and applyfo'rm-retaining-fluids and the like applied to the surface of the humananatomy and comprising a pressure ejection container adapted to storethe fluid; a rigid applicator to engage the surface of the anatomy andfixed to said container, said applicator having a ceri-,

trally disposed opening communicatively connected with the containerinterior, the outer surface of said applica tor about said openingbeingimperforate and havinga slightly convex radius of curvature, and apl'uralityflof concentric, body-surface engaging rigid annular massagerand spreader treads, each and every one of which treads has a smoothcross sectional radius of curvature much smaller than said convexradiusof curvature, eacla of said treads integrally forming a part of saidouter surface of the applicator and disposed about'said opening-4o trapand apply the fluid as eje'cted'from the container, one of said treadsbeing located immediately about and defining the exit of the op'eningand located' at thepealc of said convex surfacefor massaging and fluidspreading contact with the anatomy surface nearest said 'opening, theremaining treads being disposed-in progressively: receding relation tosaid one tread and to one another conformable to said convex surface,-said treads having annular troughs therebetween, said troughseach havinga smooth cross sectional radiusof curvature which blends smoothly withthe adjacent treads.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,581,563 Brown Apr. 20, 1926: 2,118,051 MacMichael May 24, 19382,197,052. Lowen Apr. 16,1940 2,474,969 Bengtson July 5, 19:49.2,818,590 Waddell Ian. 7, 1958 2,820,234 Rigney Jan. 21,1958

